This interview is with Drumil Joshi, Monitoring & Diagnostics Analyst at Southern Power Company.
Drumil Joshi, Monitoring & Diagnostics Analyst, Southern Power Company
Can you tell us about your role at Southern Power and how you became involved in BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) stability?
At Southern Power, I lead efforts in Monitoring & Diagnostics, focusing on making our battery energy storage systems—BESS—more reliable and efficient. I became involved when I noticed that even small disturbances, known as oscillations, were quietly affecting performance and stability. These issues often fly under the radar until they cause serious problems like energy losses or downtime. That's when I took the initiative to design a complete solution—from detecting these hidden issues in real-time to building an easy-to-use dashboard that shows exactly when and where action is needed. I'm proud to say I was the first at Southern Power to lead such a comprehensive, data-driven approach for BESS stability, and it's now helping our teams make faster, smarter decisions to keep the grid strong and dependable.
Could you share a specific example of a BESS stability issue you encountered and how your innovative approach helped solve it?
During one of our early monitoring phases, we noticed a BESS site was experiencing subtle but persistent performance drops. Traditional systems didn't raise any alarms, and to the naked eye, everything seemed fine. But when we applied the Oscillation Severity Index (OSI) that I developed, we detected repeated high-frequency oscillations during specific operating windows—especially when responding to rapid grid commands.
These oscillations were quietly reducing system efficiency and, if left unchecked, could have shortened the battery's lifespan. Using our Dash-based dashboard, we pinpointed the exact timestamps and operational conditions triggering the issue. With this insight, the operations team adjusted the control parameters and scheduling to avoid those stress points.
As a result, performance stabilized, efficiency improved, and the team avoided what could have become a costly long-term degradation. It was a powerful validation of how proactive, data-driven tools like OSI can detect what traditional monitoring often misses—and act before damage is done.
How do you see the integration of BESS changing the landscape of power generation and distribution, particularly at Southern Power?
The integration of BESS is truly reshaping how we think about power generation and distribution, not just at Southern Power, but across the industry. Traditionally, power systems were reactive, responding to demand as it happened. With BESS, we're shifting to a more intelligent, flexible model where energy can be stored and dispatched exactly when it's needed. At Southern Power, this means we're no longer just generating clean energy; we're optimizing it. BESS allows us to smooth out fluctuations from renewable sources like solar and wind, maintain grid stability during peak demand, and even support frequency regulation. It's a game-changer.
What excites me most is how we're not just adopting storage; we're leading its intelligent management. By using predictive analytics, real-time monitoring, and advanced detection tools like the Oscillation Severity Index I developed, we're making sure these systems run at their highest potential. It's not just about storing power; it's about unlocking smarter, more resilient energy for the future.
What unique strategies or technologies have you implemented to improve the operational intelligence of BESS?
One of the key innovations I've introduced is the Oscillation Severity Index (OSI), a unique metric developed to detect and quantify operational disturbances in real time. Rather than relying on traditional alarms or lagging indicators, OSI allows us to proactively identify and respond to performance issues before they escalate. I also designed an interactive dashboard using Dash that visualizes system health through OSI gauges, trend graphs, and alerts. It includes real-time climate data, automated reporting, and even a "Chat with SPC Helper" feature that lets operators get instant answers from our system database.
These tools work together to improve operational intelligence by making complex data easy to understand and act on. This strategy has helped us move from reactive to predictive maintenance, reduce downtime, and ensure more stable, efficient performance across our BESS fleet. It's the first system of its kind at Southern Power and it's raising the bar for how storage assets are monitored and managed.
Can you describe a moment when your approach to BESS stability faced skepticism, and how did you overcome it?
Absolutely. When I first introduced the concept of the Oscillation Severity Index (OSI) and the idea of real-time detection for subtle BESS oscillations, there was healthy skepticism. Some questioned whether these micro-disturbances were even worth tracking, or if the effort would bring measurable value.
To overcome this, I let the data speak. I ran the system on historical PI data and showcased real examples where unmonitored oscillations led to performance degradation and potential revenue losses. One demo in particular revealed how an undetected pattern, flagged by OSI, had been silently affecting output for weeks—costing efficiency and risking system wear.
That moment shifted the conversation. Once teams saw how these insights could lead to faster decisions, fewer outages, and better asset health, support grew rapidly. Today, the system is not just accepted—it's become a cornerstone of how we approach BESS stability, and a model that's drawing attention across other areas of Southern Power.